Edge guard



Nov. 20,1934. A A, PARTNER 1,981,747 EDGE GUARD Filed Oct 11, 1952 w fill/ arina" Patented Nov. 20, 1934 PATENT OFFICE EDGE GUARD Albert A. Partner, Biglerville, Pa., assignor to Rice, Trew & Rice Co. Inc.,

Biglcrville, Pa., a

corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 11, 1932, Serial No. 637,314

' 9 Claima (01. 217-4) This invention relates to certain improvements in edge guards for use in connection with the packing of fruit and the like, audit is primarily an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind which is intended to be disposed along a side edgeof a box or kindred receptacle from'substantially one end thereof to the other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind which is intended for use in connection with a box or container having an intermediate dividing wall and wherein the guard is provided with means for coaction with said dividing wall to maintain the guard "in desired applied position and particularly'to-hold the guard up'tothe right height to take care of the surface bulge generally present in the top layer of the fruit.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a guard of this kind provided with means whereby such guard when in applied or working position is prevented from having movement downwardly or inwardly of the package and also from moving outwardly beyond the lid. A The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved edge guard whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler,

less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. I

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:- I Figure 1 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating an edge guard con- 'structed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention and in applied position;

Figure 2 is a View in perspective of a container having guards applied thereto in accordance with my invention, one of the guards having an end portion disposed transversely across the containerj r "Figure 3 is a view in plan of one of the guards as herein disclosed unapplied. 5o In the packing of citrus fruits, such as oranges and lemons, it is the general practice to employ a box or kindred container B having its central part intersected by 'a wall or'partition 1. The fruit is so arranged within the box or container B as to have the top layer disposed on quite an outward bulge and more especially after the lid L has been applied.

In the ordinary method of packing, vupon the application of the lid L there is a tendency of the, side-marginal rows of the fruit becoming bruised or otherwise injured and there isalso a liability of some of the fruit falling out between the applied lid and the upper margin of a side wall of the box. It is, therefore, highly important in the production ofv a high grade pack that eflective means be provided to eliminate as far as possible this liability of injury of the fruit and also the loss just mentioned. I

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, it I is to be noted that it is my idea to provide a guard G along each side of the box or container B, said guard being of a length to extend from one end wall of the box to the other and to bridge the space between the'applied lid L and the associated sidewall W of the box or container.

In the present embodiment of my invention my improved guard G comprises a band of relatively heavy paper stock, such as cardboard, or other material capable of being used for the purposesdesired; The band isdisposed on a curvature from one end to the other with the upper edge on an outbow, the radius of the outer edge being such as to aproximately conform to the maximum of bulge of the top layer of fruit packed within the box or container B thus assuring an efiective bridging of the space between the applied lid L and a side wall W of the box or container B. I

The band G is also quite broad so that when it is in applied position it will extend a considerable distance within the upper portion of the box so that the pressure from within the box content or particularly an upper layer of the fruit, will coact with the lower portion of the applied guard or band G to hold the, applied band or guard against the side wall W and thereby facilitate its maintenance in desired position.

Substantially midway its ends the band or guard G is provided in its inner marginal portion with a notch 2 of a width to readily receive the upper marginal portion of the dividing wall 1. of the box B. This notch 2 also extends a considerable distance inwardly of the band as it is in accordance with this extent of the notch the lower marginal portion of the band is disposed within the upper marginal portion of the box B. With the upper marginal portion of the'wall or partition 1 engaged within the notch 2 effective means are provided to prevent the applied band or guard from dropping down within the box B into an ineffective position while of course the side edges of the notch 2 provide walls a, which will contact with the adjacent faces of the wall or partition 1 to hold the applied guard or band against endwise movement with respect to the box and thus further assuring the guard or band G being retained in its desired position.

The extremities of the band proper are continued by end flaps 3, each of said flaps 3 being separated from the band proper by a score line 4 and it is to be noted that this score line 4 is on such angle or bias with respect to the longitudinal axis of the band to assure close contact of the flap 3 from end to end with an end wall of the box as is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

While this contact of a flap 3 with an end of the box provides further means for holding the band against endwise movement when applied, it is to be stated that the particular purpose of the end flap 3 is to project beneath the applied lid L so that said lid L will coact with the flap 3 to hold the applied band or guard G against upward movement with respect to the box thereby further assuring effective maintenance of the guard or band in required working position.

I also find it of advantage to continue the side edges a of the central notch 2 by the score lines I) which extend from the inner closed end of the notch 2 to the outer marginal edge of the band G. Each of these score lines 1) permits a ready folding of an end portion of the applied band transversely across the box B in close relation to the partition or wall 1. This is of advantage as it permits the packer while placing fruit within one compartment of the box B to lay across the top of the second compartment a box of tissue paper and which paper is used to wrap the fruit before placing the same within the box. After filling one compartment of the box the packer can then readily place the box of tissue paper upon such filled compartment and then continue the packing of the second compartment, it being understood, however, that before beginning the packing of the second compartment, the end portion of the band or guard which has previously been arranged transversely of the box will be swung back into working or effective position.

It is believed to be obvious that the flaps 3 are inwardly disposed with respect to the box B when the guard or band G is in use.

It is also to be stated that the score lines 4 define the end edges of the band and it is these ends which are adapted to have close contact with the end walls of the box when the guard is applied. This is an important feature because in producing the guard it is of course necessary that the notch 2 be made of a width to compensate for the varying thicknesses of the portions of the dividing walls or partitions with which the guard may be engaged. If the notch should be considerably wider than the thickness of the wall or partition 1 to which it is applied there would be a tendency of the band to have rocking movement within the box but by forming the end edges of the band as defined by the score lines 4 so as to have close contact from substantially end to end with the end walls of the box B any tendency of such rocking movement is overcome.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that an edge guard constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:-

1. An edge guard for a fruit container comprising a band adapted to be positioned along an upper edge of the container and extending above such edge, the upper margin of said band being curved on an outbow from substantially one end to the other, the lower margin of the band having a notch intermediate the ends thereof to receive a part of the container to hold the band in applied position.

2. An edge guard for a fruit container comprising a band adapted to be positioned along an upper edge of the container and extending above such edge, the lower marginal portion of the band being provided centrally with a cut out portion to receive a part of the container for the purposes specified.

3. An edge guard for a fruit container comprising a band adapted to be positioned along an upper edge of the container and extending above such edge, flaps carried by the extremities of the band to extend inwardly of the container to engage beneath a lid applied upon the container, the lower marginal portion of the band being provided centrally with a cut out portion for the purposes described.

4. A fruit guard comprising a band of paperboard having a side wall portion adapted to engage a side wall of a fruit box the full length thereof, and an end wall portion at each end of said side wall portion adapted to abut and engage the respective end walls, said side wall portion having a notch in the mid-section thereof which seats over the transverse center wall of the box, said side wall portion having an arcuate top edge shaped to substantially conform to the bulged contour of the box cover.

5. A fruit box having side and end walls and a transverse center wall in combination with a fruit guard mounted within said box adjacent the top row of fruit, said guard comprising a band having a side wall portion extending the full length of a side wall of the box, and an end wall portion at each end of said side wall portion adapted to engage the corresponding box end wall, said side wall portion having a notch in the mid-section thereof which seats over the transverse center wall of the box, the side wall portion of the guard extending a substantial distance above the top edge of the box and having an arcuate top edge shaped to substantially conform to the bulged contour of the box cover.

6. A fruit box having side and end walls and a transverse center wall in combination with a pair of fruit guards mounted within said box adjacent the top row of fruit, each of said guards comprising a band having a side wall portion which extends the full length of a side wall of the box and a pair of end wall portions which extend part way along the end walls of the box, each of said side wall portions having a notch in the mid-section thereof which seats over the transverse center wall of the box, said side wall portions also extending a substantial distance above the top edge of the box and having an arcuate top edge contour which substantially conforms to the bulged contour of the box cover.

7. An edge guard for a container for fruit or the like comprising a band adapted to be positioned along an upper edge of the container and extending above such edge, the lower marginal portion of the band substantially midway the ends thereof having means to receive a part of the container to hold the band in applied position.

8. An edge guard for a container for fruit or the like comprising a band adapted to be positioned along an upper edge of the container and extending above such edge, the lower mar- H ginal portion of the band substantially midway the ends thereof having a notch to receive a part of the container to hold the band in applied position.

9. An edge guard for a fruit container having an intermediate transverse wall comprising a band adapted to be positioned along an upper edge of the container and extending above such edge, said band having means in its central portion to engage a part of the container to hold the band in applied position, the central portion of the band also having means to allow either of the portions of the band'adjacent to the central portion of the band to be disposed transversely of the container adjacent to the intermediate transverse wall.

ALBERT A. PARTNER. 

